🏛️ What Does Congress Do?
5th Grade 🏛️ Civics & Government
Congress is the part of the US government that makes federal laws. It has two parts: the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Two houses
The Senate has 100 senators — two from every state. The House of Representatives has 435 members; bigger states get more representatives because they have more people.
How a bill becomes a law
A bill (an idea for a law) must pass both the House and the Senate. Then the President signs it — or vetoes (rejects) it. Congress can override a veto with a two-thirds vote in both houses.
Other jobs
Congress decides how the government spends money, can declare war and approves many people the President chooses, such as Supreme Court justices. It meets in the Capitol in Washington, D.C.
Quick quiz
How many senators does each state have?
What are the two parts of Congress?
Where does Congress meet?